Lines for trawl nets



y 5, 1964 F. J. LUKETA 3,131,502

LINES FOR TRAWL. NETS Filed April 9, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR. FRANK (/1 1 04 6 7' 19 May 5, 1964 F. J. LUKETA LINES FOR TRAWL NETS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 9,- 1962 INVENTOR. mum/K 1. AW

y 5, 1964 F. J. LUKETA 3,131,502

- LINES F'OR TRAWL NETS Filed April 9, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. FRANK J ZU/ ITA F. J. LUKETA LINES FOR TRAWL NETS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. FRANK r7: ZUKETA May 5, 1964 Filed April 9, 1962 N M- 9 w 9 I J ,4 v a PM v r f f R E K .& Q R bk May 5, 1964 F. J. LUKETA LINES FOR TRAWL NETS 5 Sheets-Shet 5 Filed April 9, 1962 INVENTOR. FRANK I}: Mt 771 United States Patent 3,131,502 LINES FUR TRAWL NETS Frank J. Lnketa, 5567 Greenwood Ave, Seattle 3, Wash. Filed Apr. 9, i962, Ser. No. 186,086 9 Claims. (Cl. 43-9) In a companion application entitled lines for Trawl Nets, Serial No. 186,087 filed April 9, 1962 there is de scribed and claimed a line intended for use as a long curtain line for instance, which is formed with builtin means to do either or both of two things, namely, to buoy up (or to depress) the line, and to urge the line out of a catenary curve towards straightness. This is accomplished by encasing a steel cable core within a casing molded of rubber to define hydrotoil and/or water reaction surfaces. The netting of the curtain must be secured all along its edge to the line, or specifically to the casing, in a manner to avoid disturbance of the forceproducing functions of such surfaces, yet strongly and accurately.

Another companion application entitled Lines for Trawl Nets, Serial No. 186,085 filed April 9, 1962, discloses and claims a hanging line assembly particularly suited for use with lines of the general character of Serial No. 186,087 and which have a bar-cut edge which is hung from the line.

The present invention deals specifically with the securement of a line to a netting panel, to the ends indicated hereinabove, when the netting panels edge is point-cut, as it would be normally in a bottom trawl net curtain. Subject matter common to Serial No. 186,085 and to this application will be claimed herein.

Also, since it is desirable to make such lines in sections, capable of being joined end to end with like sections to constitute a line of required length, it is an object to use securing means between the line and the mesh panel that are best suited for use in the line sections of relatively short length, and suited 'for use according to a novel method hereinafter explained.

Further objects will appear hereinafter.

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of a bottom trawl net, which is the type to which this invention is particularly applicable, partly broken away, but drawn to a scale too small to show details of the connection between the curtains and the curtain lines.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged isometric detail of the lower edge of a curtain, illustrating Why the curtain panels should be point-cut at top and bottom edges.

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view, to a very small scale, of a net lacking the catenary-correcting means that is built into the line of this invention (as explained in said application Serial No. 186,087), and which to some de gree complicates the problem of interconnecting the mesh panel and the line, and FIGURE 4 is a similar view of the net which incorporates the catenary-correcting means, for comparison.

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of the forward portion of the curtain of FIGURE 3, and FIGURE 6 is a sectional View of the same at the line 66 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a top plan view of the same forward portion of the curtain of FIGURE 4, and FIGURE 8 is a sectional View of the same at the line 88 of FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 is an isometric view of a portion of the line with the curtain hanging limply, and showing certain of the details of this invention; FIGURE 10 is a like View, with the curtain inclined aft and down, as it would be in use.

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged isometric view of an end portion of a section, partly broken away, and showing further details of this invention in one embodiment.

FIGURE 12 is an elevational view of the limply hanging curtain, at the two sides of a joint between sections, and FIGURE 13 is a plan view of the same.

FIGURES 14, 15, and 16 are all sections at the line 15-15 of FIGURE 12, FIGURE 14 illustrating a first step in the assembly of the line, FIGURE 15 illustrating the assembly completed but the curtain hanging limply, and FIGURE ;l6 illustrating the assembly being drawn forwardly through the water, in use.

FIGURE 17 is an elevational view, partly in section, of a modified form of line, incorporating this invention.

FIGURE 18 is an elevational view, partly in section, showing a first step in the assembly of the modified form of line, and FIGURE -19 is an isometric view of the same.

FIGURE 20 is a sectional View, at the Line 20-Z0 of FIGURE 17, and FIGURE 21 is a sectional view at the line 2l21 o-f FIGURE 18.

The bot-tom tuawl net chosen to illustrate this invention includes a codend 9 closed by a purse Line at its after end, its forward end being secured to and held open by an expander ring 91. A funnel 9'2 diverges forwardly from the expander ring '91 to which it is secured, to an upper bosom 93 and lower bosom 94. Curtains '7 are secured at their after ends, at '70, to the sides of the funnel 9'2, and diverge widely forwardly. These curtains hang from curtain lines 7-1 which extend from the upper bosom 93 to tan anchorage at 72 upon doors 6, that cause the curtains to diverge by water reaction as the doors are towed by towing warps 60. A sweep line 84, buoyed up by occasional floats 84a, or by other suitable means, extends from mesh suspenders 8, or the connectors 80 to which the suspenders are connected at their forward ends, to anchorage 72 at the door. The suspenders at their rear ends are distributed about the expander ring 91, and the sweep lines 84- and suspenders 8- in effiect pull the codend 9 forwardly over the bottom. Rolling bobbins across the lower bosom hold this part of the net off the bottom, to prevent snagging.

The curtains 7 and the curtain lines 71 best illustrate the present invention. Each curtain line must support its curtain above the bottom throughout its length, yet the lower edge of the curtain should drag the bottom. The curtain line might be buoyed up, and its tendency to assume ta catenary curve, as illustrated in FIGURE 3, might be corrected by floats attached at intervals along the line, and of a type disclosed in my application Serial No. 150,577, filed November 6, 1961, but it is possible to incorporate in the line itself means to buoy it up and to cause the line to straighten from its catenary curvature, to assume somewhat the shape shown in FIGURE 4, either or both. A line of this nature is disclosed and claimed in said application Serial No. 186,087. lit is with a line of this type that the present invention is concerned, more particularly with the assembly of the point-cut edge of a curtain or other netting panel with such a line.

By employing such a line all extraneous floats, anchored at intervals along the line, are dispensed with. There is then no tendency for them to interfere with reeling in of the net by the drum trawling method, nor for the floats to become entangled in the net. The catenary correction is desirable because without it, the leading ends of a long curtain lie substantially in the line of advance, and the curtain does not, in this portion, incline rearwardly to block escape of fish over its upper edge, for the curtain will hang vertically, as shown in FIGURE 6, whereas if the line is more nearly straight throughout its length, as in FIGURE 4, the curtain will incline rearwardly and downwardly from the curtain line throughout its length, as in FIGURES 7 and 8, to trap all fish it encounters along the bottom.

The curtain line 71 is buoyed up by hydrofoil surfaces which include fin-like water reaction surfaces '73, blunt at the nose and cambered to a thin traiilng edge, formed upon a casing '76 molded of rubber or the like, enclosing a stranded wire core 74. Auxiliary hydrofoil surfaces 75, supported by outstanding and more or less helically disposed water reaction surfaces 77, serve to minimize drag. The surfaces 7'7 by water reaction as the line is drawn forwardly, tend to correct the catenary curvature. All this is more fully explained in application Serial No. 186,087. The lower edge of the curtain is held down by weights (FIGURE 2) secured at intervals along this edge.

There is some slight distention of the curtain from top to bottom, and for this and other reasons it is best that the curtain have point-cut or selvage edges at top and bottom, and that sections of curtain panels be joined at their ends by joining bar-cut edges by connectors such as 4. The weights 5 are secured by engaging their supporting rings 5t} (FIGURE 2) with one or two points of the mesh.

According to this invention the casing 76 is formed with an internal tunnel or passage 76a, of a size to receive the cable core 74. The casing might be molded about the core, but preferably the core is insertible within and removable from its passage 7611. One way for doing this is to slit the casing at 7617 from its exterior to intersect the passage 76a, wherefore, the casing being of rubber or like resiliently elastic material, its slit portion may be opened, as in FIGURE 14, to receive the core, and will then close again. The slit, if it opens thus fully, should be in the trailing edge portion of the casing.

Reliance is not placed upon the resilience of the split casing to retain the core within the casing, nor does the construction as so far described provide a means to secure the curtains edge to the line. To these ends projections or knobs 78 are formed on one of the slit portions of the casing 76, at intervals in its length, and the complemental portion of the casing has apertures 79 to pass the knobs '78. The latter are of suificient length to project beyond the outer surface of the casing, and are there apertured, at 78a. The water reaction surfaces 77 at the same side of the casing are also apertured, at 77a, in alignment with apertures 78a when the casing is relaxed, as in FIGURE 15. Additional terminal knobs, designated 78b, similar in all respects to knobs 78, are provided at the end of each sectional length of the casing 76, where ends of adjoining lengths or sections are joined with a coupler 40.

After the core '74 is inserted within its passage 76a and the casing is relaxed, the knobs '78 pass through the apertures 79. Now the point-cut edge of the curtain '7 is placed along the line, and a hanging line 1 is threaded through the apertures 78a in knobs '78 and 78b, and through apertures 77a in elements 77, and through each point of the mesh it encounters. The knobs, or the water reaction elements located Where a knob would otherwise protrude, are spaced lengthwise at intervals corresponding to the spacing between points of the mesh, that is to say, by a distance equal to the diagonal dimension of a mesh square, and the apertures 78a and 77a lie close to the exterior surface of the casing. In consequence the knobs may not pull out of their apertures 79, the hanging line is well protected by the casing, and the mesh points are accurately engaged and supported. The mesh hangs evenly from the several suspension points, and nowhere is it crowded nor stretched.

If it is preferred not to slit the casing to its exterior,

the alternate construction of FIGURES 17 to 21 may be employed. Each sectional end of core '74 must have a swaged-on head 74a for clamping within a coupler 41) against tensional pull. The passage 76a may be siuliciently enlarged, as by the radial slit 760, to pass the head 74a, as in FIGURES 18 and 21. Knobs 780, the same in number, location, and spacing as the knobs 78 and 78b, are now integral with and project from the exterior surface of the unslit casing '76, and are similarly apertured at 78a for reception of the hanging line 1. Securement 0 the P I 9 W h the heads 74a secures the line sections together, and threading of the hanging line 1 through the points of the mesh and the apertures 78a and 77a secures the curtain and line together. The ends of the hanging line are suitably secured, as by swaged-on terminals 10 outside the terminal knobs 73b.

It will be noted that the curtains are formed of a plurality of sections, each complete with its mesh, curtain line, terminals or heads 74a for joining by the couplers 4%, and hanging line. Weights 5 can also be in place upon each section. A quick-releasable fastener 4 joins the edges of adjacent sections. Should the mesh of any curtain section snag upon a bottom obstruction and tear, it is a matter of a couple of minutes, only, to disconnect the torn sec tion at 4% and at 4 from adjoining sections, and to replace it with a complete replacement section, already equipped with all necessary elements, and of the same dimensions as the original section. The torn section can be repaired as opportunity presents itself, but more importantly, the restored not can be reset with little loss of fishing time.

The assembly is effected quite rapidly, and when com plete is secure against accidental disengagement. Never theless, when disassembly is required, it is only necessary to remove a terminal 10 (by simply cutting it off) from the expendabie hanging line, and the latter can be immediately withdrawn throughout the length of a section.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination with a mesh curtain panel or the like, a line including a core and an external casing for the core, supporting means distributed lengthwise of the casing at spacings corresponding to the dimension of successive meshes of the panel along the same line, and engaging successive meshes to space them equally, said supporting means including a hanging line extending horizontally throughout its length, and engaged with meshes distributed along the panels edge, and with the casing.

2. In combination with a mesh curtain panel or the like, a line including a cable core and a flexible casing surrounding the core throughout its length and slit lengthwise from its exterior to the core, to receive the core within said slit, and means for securing the edge of the panel to the casing when so received within the slit, including elements spanning and closing the slit outwardly of the core, and spaced lengthwise of the casing by distances corresponding to the dimension of successive meshes of the panel, in the same direction, said engaging means also including a hanging line engaged with the panels edge and with the casing.

3. In combination with a mesh curtain panel or the like having a point-cut edge, a line including a core and a casing enclosing said core, elements projecting from the casing at spacings lengthwise of the casing corresponding to the spacings between successive points at the edge of the mesh, the several projecting elements having apertures, and a hanging line threaded through such apertures and through the successive points of the meshs edge.

4. The combination of claim 3, wherein certain of the apertured projecting elements are water-reaction surfaces, and others are knobs.

5. The combination of claim 3, wherein all the apertures are aligned lengthwise of the line. i

6. In combination. with. a mesh curtain panel or the like, having a point-cut edge, a line including a core and a casing of flexible material enclosing said core and slit lengthwise from its exterior to the core, knobs projecting across the slit from one side portion of the casing, the opposite side portion being apertured for the protrusion of said knobs, the knobs being spaced lengthwise of the casin in general correspondence with the diagonal dimension of the mesh squares, and being each apertured in its protruding portion, and a hanging line threaded through the apertures of the knobs and through intervening points along the panels edge.

7. In combination with a mesh curtain panel or the like, having a point-cut edge, a line including a core and a casing of flexible material enclosing said core, the core having a passage for the core deformable and thereby enlargeable for threading of the core through it, knobs projecting at one side of the casing and spaced lengthwise in general correspondence with the diagonal dimension of the mesh squares, and being each apertured, and a hanging line threaded through the apertures of the knobs and through intervening points of the mesh, along its edge.

8. The combination of claim 6, including further water reaction surfaces projecting from the casing intermediate certain knobs, and similarly apertured, the hanging line also passing through the apertures of the water reaction surfaces and through mesh points between the latter and adjacent knobs.

9. In a trawl net which includes a codend and curtains diverging forwardly from the codend, each curtain comprising a plurality of like mesh panels, a plurality of curtain line sections each of the same effective length as its mesh panel, coupler means for joining the ends of the successive curtain line sections, and fastener means quickly releasable and reengageable disposed along the forward and rear edges of each mesh panel, engageable with like fastener means on adjoining panels to complete the curtain of indeterminate length, whereby a damaged curtain panel may be removed intact and replaced by a whole panel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,894,366 Leckie July 14, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,114,798 France Dec. 19, 1955 1,175,902 France Dec. 17, 1958 382,354 Great Britain Oct. 27, 1932 

7. IN COMBINATION WITH A MESH CURTAIN PANEL OR THE LIKE, HAVING A POINT-CUT EDGE, A LINE INCLUDING A CORE AND A CASING OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL ENCLOSING SAID CORE, THE CORE HAVING A PASSAGE FOR THE CORE DEFORMABLE AND THEREBY ENLARGEABLE FOR THREADING OF THE CORE THROUGH IT, KNOBS PROJECTING AT ONE SIDE OF THE CASING AND SPACED LENGTHWISE IN GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE DIAGONAL DIMENSION OF THE MESH SQUARES, AND BEING EACH APERTURED, AND HANGING LINE THREADED THROUGH THE APERTURES OF THE KNOBS AND THROUGH INTERVENING POINTS OF THE MESH, ALONG ITS EDGE. 